RCGP members are uniquely positioned to promote general practice to school and college pupils, providing insights which can help young people make informed choices about their future careers.
There are a variety of ways members can engage with school pupils depending on the preferred age group, desired style of activity and time available, each carrying their own benefits.
If you are considering engaging with schools and are unsure where to start, consider our best practice when approaching schools [PDF] and the different activities described below on our handouts:
Attending a careers fair [PDF]
Invited to answer questions on a stall at a careers fair in a local school?
This information sheet is designed to help members maximise their time and have greatest impact during this light touch activity.
Delivering a talk or workshop in a school [PDF]
This could be a careers talk to 16-year-old aspiring medics, a Personal, Social and Healthcare (PSE/PSHE) or Living, Learning, Together (Northern Ireland) session to a group of 14-year-old pupils or a presentation to a whole primary school during assembly.
This information sheet is designed to help members for prepare for a talk or workshop, providing some things to consider and best practice.
In the presentations section below a template 'life as a GP' talk is available along with other materials which may be of use including activity sheets focusing on confidentiality, medical ethics and NHS core values.
Delivering a large-scale outreach event [PDF]
Some faculties have organised, promoted and delivered large-scale events for school pupils for a number of years. Usually pupils register to attend a half or full day consisting of a series of workshops and talks in a carousel.
This information sheet provides some key things to consider when designing a larger-scale event for school pupils of any age.
A template task list [word] has also been produced outlining many of the operational details that can be considered.
School pupils FAQs [PDF]
Similar questions tend to emerge when engaging with school pupils, usually relating to medicine in general and what it is like to work as a GP.
Before attending or delivering any activity with school pupils we recommend reading through these FAQs and suggested answers.